French white wines from the Rhone

The Record

Today, we explore the soft and sultry side of French whites, where stone fruits and white flowers take front and center. Push the rich chardonnays of Burgundy and the steely whites of the Loire aside and think somewhere right in the middle; you’ll find viognier. Wines produced from this lovely grape are often fresh, creamy and "flowery," with balancing acidity. It can be tricky, though. Too much acidity and the elegant profile for which viogniers are known for can fade. Too little and it becomes flabby and dull. When just right, there isn’t a hard edge or unlikeable quality about the wine. Some of the finest are produced in France’s Rhone region.

Below are two viognier blends from the Rhone, as well as an Alsatian gewurztraminer and a grenache blanc from Roussillon. The gewurztraminer is worlds apart from the three other wines in terms of style. It leans toward racy, but those white peach and rose petal aromas the grape exudes are simply gorgeous.

— Joe Iurato

* 2012 DOMAINE LAFAGE, "CENTENAIRE," COTES DU ROUSSILLON

Grapes: Grenache Blanc, Roussanne

A pretty, medium bodied white revealing peach pit, honeydew, lime, white flowers and slate. A touch of salinity finds its way on the finish.

How much: $16.99

* 2011 CHATEAU DE MONTFAUCON "COMTESSE MADELEINE," COTES DU RHONE

Grapes: Marsanne, Viognier, Clairette, Picpoul

This is one wild wine. Expressive citrus, hazelnut, orange blossom and brandy (yes, I smell Cognac) aromas lead into a creamy, oak-tinged mouth feel that finishes with a push of acidity.

French white wines from the Rhone

Today, we explore the soft and sultry side of French whites, where stone fruits and white flowers take front and center. Push the rich chardonnays of Burgundy and the steely whites of the Loire aside and think somewhere right in the middle; you’ll find viognier. Wines produced from this lovely grape are often fresh, creamy and "flowery," with balancing acidity. It can be tricky, though. Too much acidity and the elegant profile for which viogniers are known for can fade. Too little and it becomes flabby and dull. When just right, there isn’t a hard edge or unlikeable quality about the wine. Some of the finest are produced in France’s Rhone region.

Below are two viognier blends from the Rhone, as well as an Alsatian gewurztraminer and a grenache blanc from Roussillon. The gewurztraminer is worlds apart from the three other wines in terms of style. It leans toward racy, but those white peach and rose petal aromas the grape exudes are simply gorgeous.

— Joe Iurato

* 2012 DOMAINE LAFAGE, "CENTENAIRE," COTES DU ROUSSILLON

Grapes: Grenache Blanc, Roussanne

A pretty, medium bodied white revealing peach pit, honeydew, lime, white flowers and slate. A touch of salinity finds its way on the finish.

How much: $16.99

* 2011 CHATEAU DE MONTFAUCON "COMTESSE MADELEINE," COTES DU RHONE

Grapes: Marsanne, Viognier, Clairette, Picpoul

This is one wild wine. Expressive citrus, hazelnut, orange blossom and brandy (yes, I smell Cognac) aromas lead into a creamy, oak-tinged mouth feel that finishes with a push of acidity.